Weekend Update…
             Curvy?  Yes, I am!

   And a little more about the online dating thing

With New Year’s Eve just hours away, there are all kinds of "specials" with the online dating sites.   Evidently, the time period between Christmas and Valentine’s Day is the peak time for singles to get into online dating.  This makes for an interesting "New Year's Resolution," agree?  Match.com has announced that January 6 will be their biggest day of the year!   They are encouraging updates to profiles, additional new pictures, and anything you can do to “spice up” your page! 

I decided to review my page and as a result, I have made a couple of changes but one of them has me perplexed!   Here’s the deal.  Try to stay with me…Remember when I was explaining about the various criteria that these sites requested?   Well, I chose “curvy” instead of “a few extra pounds”  for my body type.  Men that list what they are looking for can indicate “curvy” and it makes it easy for me to send a smile when they have that listed.   I decided to change my criteria for a man to “no preference” on the body type so that my options would be more available.   

When I went to edit, I pushed “no preference” and the “curvy” disappeared!   I immediately panicked (I'm not kidding!) and pushed the drop-down list to re-enter “curvy” only to find that it was not listed.   “A few extra pounds” was also gone.   WTH????    I logged off and re-freshed and tried again, only to see the same stupid list appeared:  Slender, Average, Athletic/Toned and Heavyset.   UGH!   None of these are appealing to me as a woman!   Well, maybe Slender and Athletic/Toned, (wishful thinking!) but certainly not HEAVYSET!   Now, I know, my pictures will be a better explanation of my size/shape, but if someone is looking at my profile now, it says, “I’ll tell you later” next to the body type…Are you kidding me???

Well, guess what?   It's not nice to  mess with Lisa Houser!   I'm the person who is going to tell you about it!    I sent a “help” note to Match.com and received this response   "Unfortunately, Curvy is no longer available as an option on our site. Your feedback is valuable to us, and I'll be sure to forward your comments to our Product team."  Then, they sent me a survey to see how my interaction with their customer service department had been.   (Insert laughter!)   I gave them my insights…telling them that no woman wants to list “heavyset” as her body type and I am very disappointed that the curvy option was dismissed.   I have asked them to re-consider this option and I’ll keep you posted.   I even told them that this was getting me to think about going to another site…(not really, but they don’t have to know that!).  I’ll let you know if I hear from anyone now that curvy is no longer on my profile!  

I’m still “browsing” my Match.com matches.  I think of it as looking through a catalog or a magazine.   There are many faces to review, some get skipped over and some get a smile.    You can see who has looked at your profile so I usually check to see if by chance they are a recommended match.   When you see all of the people who have looked at you, and the number of people who have sent a smile, it can be a little disappointing…but again, as I have said, I’m doing the same exact thing…basically judging a book by its cover.

I think there are some good, available men out there.  After all, I'm on there and I'm good, right?   Looking at his picture and eliminating him before reading his profile is probably not the best way to meet him.   I admit that I’m skipping over ones that don’t catch my eye.  I know the men are doing the same thing to me.   UGH!   Just typing this makes it seem so weird.   

I’ve decided that in the new year, I’m going to try not to “judge the book by its cover” so often!   I’m going to read through the profiles and in general, be open to the possibilities.

Recently, I did connect with someone and it was very nice.   Since we met shortly before Christmas, it wasn’t really great for finding time to get together but I’m hopeful that we will see each other again after the first of the year.   Poor guy…we communicated for a few days through the website and then I told him about my new rule…meeting sooner, rather than later.   I was determined to not waste weeks texting or emailing only to be “ghosted” or left hanging because a meeting couldn’t be setup.   Surprisingly, he was okay with that.   So, we did meet for drinks, just a few days after our first conversation.   It was a great first encounter and renewed my spirit.   Although we connect most every day, it has only been one meeting.   Stay tuned for more info on this match! 

For those of you who have been contemplating a “dip into this online dating pool” now is the time!   There's nothing like a good sale!   Check out the specials and see what kind of deal you can get.   Do not be afraid…If I can do it, anyone can!

Since I want this blog to be fun and informative as well, I thought I'd share some of the terminology I have learned in this process.  I can't believe there are so many resources for Silver Daters or Gray Daters.   I expect to see adult education classes popping up anytime now!    Today, I’m going to feature two online dating words…"Catfishing” and “Ghosting.” 

Catfishing - to lure someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona.  

I have learned that when it seems too good to be true, it probably is, so listen to your gut.   When you spend lots of time messaging with someone and they avoid wanting to meet  by using excuses like “I have to work” or “I’m going out of town” you can pretty much assume you are being “catfished!”   Often times, actually more often than not, a request for money will come into the picture.   I will expand on this more at a later time.   I also learned that there is a TV show devoted to stories of people being “catfished.”  Who knew???

Ghosting - the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication.

I have been “ghosted” a few times.   Great conversation and the possibility of meeting and then POOF! he’s gone!  No reply…just gone.     I recognize that it is often hard to tell someone you aren’t interested, but I’d rather hear that than have someone just disappear.   Oh, the games that people play…

Wishing you all a Healthy and Happy New Year!   I'm ready to put 2018 behind me...Welcome 2019...This grown ass woman is ready for you!!